Today, I’ll be making one of the toughest decisions in my life. I never expected that this day would come, that I’ll grow a year older and be asked to decide something as complicated as this. I just find it hard and painful to let go of the people and things I have grown to love for the past three years. I hate goodbyes but I guess moving on and getting out of my comfort zone would force me to do better, and hopefully, climb a notch higher in achieving my dreams in life. I want to believe that there is a whole universe waiting to be explored outside UP, and if I miss out on this opportunity and wait until my next birthday, I might not have the drive and courage to leave. I don’t want to end up like most of the staff here, spending ten or twenty years of their lives in the university waiting for the break that would never come. Some people would raise eyebrows for sure, what am I complaining about when I am here in (arguably) one of the best environment to work and grow as an individual. But I don’t want to be contented, not yet, not at this age. I want to explore things and go places and meet new people. I feel that I have a lot of energy to burn and I am told to sit, relax, and eat popcorn. Maybe when I turned fifty I’d want to do that, but now I don’t feel that I’m cut out for such a laidback life. I have started to stack up my three-year collection of books, pictures, and whatnots, I guess this is really goodbye.
**
I'm taking some time off from blogging to take stock on what's happening in my life, my beloved country, and the big, bad world. That sounds like too grown up for me :)
1) My name is Kristinne. I didn't know this is how my name is spelt on my birth certificate until Grade 6, I was known as Khristine then.
2) A first born child on both sides of my family.
3) Because of this, I had difficulty calling someone ate or kuya before, but now I use ate.
4) I started primary school at age 5.
5)...
***
Another unfinished post, supposedly for my 24th birthday :)
I just got home from a whole day stint at Gateway for the film fest. I guess this is one of the best pre-bday celebration I ever had. And I have to thank CEAE for the opportunity they gave me to help them even in a very small way. The staff and my co-volunteers are really awesome tenku tenku :)
Please, please if you haven't seen or heard MFF, try to visit Gateway tonight until Sunday, 21 August. There are a lot of great films out there and I had the chance to watch two, Legacy: Philippine World Herritage Sites by noted director Butch Nolasco and Children of the Mountains by Jukka Holapainen, the president of CEAE.
Legacy features the journey of famed conservation advocate Augusto Villalon to UNESCO heritage sites in the Philippines. It is an exhilarating journey that will take you to the depths of the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, the St. Paul Subterranean River at Puerto Princesa, the historic landmark in the North that is Vigan, the majestic Rice Terraces, and ends at the four Baroque churches that reflect Filipino culture and faith. Children of the Mountains tells the sad plight of the Dumagats who once lived abundantly, peacefully co-existing with wild flora and fauna the way their deities created them to be. They were once a dignified tribe who did not depend on anyone for their survival until the roads, chainsaws, and bulldozers came. Now, the Dumagats allowed themselves to be enslaved by the so-called civilized people to earn their living because the greedy corporations (who are in collusion with people from the government) took everything away from them: their dignity, their culture, even their lives.
These are films stripped off with glamour and big-named stars. These are real films depicting real people and real problems. I guess we shouldn't deny our children, especially ourselves, of this rare chance to breathe reality even for just a few hours.
Happy weekend.
Eto na nga yung answers ko dun sa tag ng hny ko, baka hindi pa ako mabigyan ng regalo sa birthday ko e hwehehe
1. What are the things you enjoy, even when no one around you wants to go out and play?
- Reading-i looove to read, kahit yung likod ng shampoo bottles pinagtyatyagaan ko pag wala ng mabasa in the loo. But I only enjoy reading non-academic books. :)
- Internet surfing
- Blogging-nuff said.
- Playing RPG-I went ga-ga playing Ragnarok one time, and I have sat for hours until my butt went numb. Same with Sims. Hny hated me for this.
- Shopping-every woman loves doing this and having an impatient boyfriend spoils the fun.
- Watching anime downloaded from the net.
- Travelling-this is more fun if you have your loved one with you.
- Eating-I rarely eat alone. It's really sad eating alone you know.
- Eating
- Blogging
- Reading
- Surfing the net
- Having a good laugh with friends
- Uttering a short and simple prayer :)
This is one really cool program from Google. You just type in the field where you want to go, anywhere in the world, and Google Earth will fly (yes, fly!) you there in seconds.
We were so excited when we learned about this from our classmate in GIS that after installing the program we hurriedly tried searching for the Philippines, UP Diliman in particular. Here's what we found:
It felt a bit sad knowing we're really eons away from Japan (top) or US when it comes to technology. They have their own satellites up there you know. The reason why their satellite images look like these:
Weeks later in our class, during a short break, we decided to roam around the Earth and zoom in to every thinkable spot in the world. We visited France, US, Canada, China, etc. Then somebody said Philippines, then everybody went ayyyy....we were greeted by the hazy picture above. But the surprise of our life came when the big man said that he can pinpoint the roof of his house if we just go to Bulacan. So off we went to Guiguinto. What we saw next left everyone awed and a tad proud knowing that our country, despite all the hullaballoo, is not really that left out in terms of technology (we do wiretapping first class!).
Moonrise Documentary Film Festival
August 18-21, 2005
Gateway Mall, Cubao
http://www.moonrisefilmfest.org/
Know these people…
Hear their voices…
Listen to their stories.
FILM ENTRIES
AGNO Erlyn Ruth Alcantara Cordillera People’s Alliance & Southern Tagalog ExposureBUHAY DAGAT Florey Lopez
ENVIRONMENTAL ART Lili Arivara
FISHING FOR HOPE Mabel Batong
HEADHUNTERS’ SHADOW Milo Paz Philrights
ILOG/ TAGA ILOG Leo Valencia Guinea Piglet Productions
JANITOR FISH Adrian de Vera
LEGACY Butch Nolasco National Commission for Culture and the Arts
LIWASANG BAYAN Katrina Encanto
MOVING MOUNTAINS Boyette Rimban Philrights
MT. MANABO Rom Camagun
TAMARAW QUEST Milo Paz Far Eastern University
SAGKA Randy Nobleza Tambuyog Development Center
SUNRISE IN ORIENTAL MINDORO Rom Cumagun
WAILING OF PARADISE Fr. Romeo Villavicencio Communication for Evangelization and Development Center
WINNING THE WAR ON GARBAGE Joe Cuaresma Mother Earth Foundation
“Where is the balance between development and taking care of the needs of people especially those displaced by development? … these are informative documentaries to make everybody [become] aware of their responsibilities… … [The MTRCB] commends CEAE for highlighting these problems. The audience will be properly informed of problems brought about by progress.”
-MTRCBhttp://www.moonrisefilmfest.org
Presented by the CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION & APOCALYPSE POINT PRODUCTIONS
In cooperation with: Ford Motors Conservation & Environmental Grants*Foundation for the Philippine Environment*Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-FRMP*UNILEVER Philippines *GATEWAY Mall *Philippine Information Agency* GMA-7 *Manila Bulletin*Discover Philippines Magazine*Yehey.com
Tickets: P60 for students and teachers/ P99 for regular patrons
***
There is life (and a lot more pressing concerns) after the Gloriagate scandal.
Let us support this worthy cause. :)
With the demise of presidentiable and former Senator Raul Roco this morning, I just can't help but think that maybe, Noli De Castro is indeed destined to be our president. The man won hands down versus Loren, that we have to admit. If FPJ won last year's election and Noli his Vice, then with Da King's demise, Noli could have been the president. That's near-hit number one. Near-hit number two came with the Hello Garci fiasco that resulted in calls for GMA's impeachment/resignation/ouster. And then everyone took some time out upon realizing that Noli Boy is drumming his fingers impatiently, eagerly waiting for the throne. Then came the news about the senator, that's near-hit number three if you're keeping tabs.
But I won't stop counting, maybe we won't be so lucky the fourth time as the impeachment process progress. Right now, I just want to believe that there is still Divine intervention, a miracle thread perhaps that keeps the presidency away from Noli's grasp. The mere thought of that would surely make the Filipinos recite the paternoster again and again and again.
Finished reading this overly-hyped installment of the HP series Monday night. I started reading it Sunday night and forced my eyes to read until 12 pm, left with 25 pages more, I contemplated of not going to work come Monday morning so I can finish it and verify if you-know-who really died on the page specified by people from hell.
I shed a few tears, much less from what I've shed in book five. Maybe because I wasn't really expecting Sirius's death and the death scene was really built up to the point that crybabies like me would end up bawling. This time, I grieved for some seconds and that was it. Maybe it was shock and disbelief at the same time. How could someone as powerful as you-know-who, end up pleading for his life? Of course, a lot of speculations are up. And you'll have yours after you read the book. Rowling depicted the main characters the way they should be portrayed five books later; mature, more aggressive, young adults caught between the roles expected of them and matters of the heart. The tone is also darker and more serious with pages peppered with deaths and violence.
I just don't understand why people are so eager to piss others who have not read it to the point of selling something like this: www.tshirthell.com. <>
*Thanks for the heads up guys! ;)
Crash course in Photoshop for my hny. The Chinese character reads shuang hsi or double happiness. Happy, happy bun!mwah2
This was the longest 7 hours of my life. I can barely smile.
The "yummy" calamansi juice according to Neil G. Great timing indeed, I stood there and froze while he had his "tea break".
The crowd outside Fully Booked. The line was really long it turned and twisted until the parking lot outside the Promenade.
Dinner after the sacrifice at Teriyaki Boy. We had Kani Salad (Bento Box's KS is way better), tamago sashimi, Chicken teriyaki, and Ebi tempura, and thirst-quenching lipton iced tea.
I'm not yet a Gaiman fan, but he scored a thousand pogi points for his patience for bearing with emotional, giggling, blabbering people. The ladies were all over him (most of them), asking to hug or even kiss him, I can tell his hand was numb from signing tons of books that day and the other night, still, that unwavering smile and coolness. Neil, you are really loved here! :)
Before signing, he read excerpts from Anansi Boys (taken by hny while I was at the back of the building)
His interview at NU: http://s14.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2D8DKKZ0ZU8CM0WNXRNHM86IGN
courtesy of a peyups.com member.
I heard that the crowd for the book signing yesterday at Gateway started to build-up as early as 8.30 am. Signing began at 4.00 pm. They said it reached three floors. People are crazy, including me I guess. =)
Just had a really sad conversation over the phone with my hny, he just confirmed the resignation of 10 Cabinet members. My initial reaction was "Akala ko ba walang bibitiw?" Last night the President tried to save face by pre-empting the resignation of her Cabinet, announcing that she asked them to resign. This morning the media had a feast over the press con, the resignation was made public by the key actors, Boncodin, Deles, Soliman, Parayno, etc., too public that it worsen the already worse situation. "So should we expect Noli to be President soon?" The answer was just too much for me, I had to puke.
Again, chaos. After the tragic 9/11 in the US, the curse of the world's superpowers was channeled to Britain. Amidst the celebration for bagging the Olympics 2012 hosting, London was rocked by a blast in its underground train at Kings Cross, 37 died and 700 were injured. Al Qaeda was blamed. Britain is also hosting the G8 summit at Gleneagles.
Wednesday is one boring day. I'm not surprised at all, I've been feeling like this since forever.
Skipped lunch kanina and waited for the merienda courtesy of our OIC, Garie. This is so much fun! Not having a boss for a week!
I was asked by an officemate if I wanna go to Tagaytay and spend my precious 4 days there: "To do what?", I asked "Social artistry," he quipped. Da hell.
Social artistry is the buzzword nowadays. The concept was introduced by Dr. Jean Houston.
"Social Artistry is a new profession whose craft could be said to be that of conscious evolution. .this new profession addresses the training of people who agree to this challenge and who have the maturity, initiative and vision as well as a passion for making a difference in the whole domain of human affairs. It requires considerable courage for what is being formed is possibly a movement as profound as it is outreaching in its implications for proactive social evolution."
It's being adopted and funded by the UNDP here in the Philippines. It was free and I get to spend 4 days away from the monotony of my cube farm life. I said no. Talk about happiness from martyrdom. I should be off to sainthood hehe
For the first time in years, I have to be serious with my studies. Our teacher in Estate Planning is way too strict and demands a lot. The last requirement was really out of this world, we are expected to submit a case study of best practices in housing! On top of that, we still have to submit two major papers, one a policy analysis of our report and two, a comprehensive critique of housing programs. We're contemplating of dropping this subject after the first meeting.
Losers hehe
Went home early. It's raining because of tropical depression Emong. I don't know if I prefer the scorching heat or the gloomy weather when it rains.
***
I though I'll be able to rest but I got interested reading through other people's blogs. Snooper hehe
***
We'll be watching Hackers tonight, an old Angelina Jolie film, well she's not even the lead actor. She's so young in the film and we had a good time looking at her and debating which of her body parts went under the knife.
***
Lastly, I'm just so thankful He heard and granted my prayer. Very, very thankful. Miracles really do happen, sometimes we're just too busy complaining that we fail to see all the wonderful things He had given us.
On July 6, 2005, eight of the world's most powerful leaders will convene in Edinburgh and decide on the fate of millions who are dying from hunger.
People from all over the world are expected to troop to UK and welcome the G8 with banners and white bands calling for the cancellation of debts of underdeveloped nations, delivery of more and better aid, and changing of unfair trade rules and practices.
Let us show our support for this worthy cause and join the millions who are taking action in making poverty history.
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On a lighter note, happy birthday to my lola. I love you, 'la and thank you so much for everything :)
Just when you thought the University has the sense to do background check before they hire people. *Roll eyes*
The Case of Gareth Richards-->http://web.kssp.upd.edu.ph/polsci/index.html
I'm too burnt out to blog. Yay. I've read a lot of friends' blogs sharing the same sentiment. If you're thinking that I am affected by the Hello Garci fiasco, by Sin's death, or by the P2 fare increase, I assure you I am not. It's a micro thing, closer to heart, it's my work. Definitely, it's downhill from here on.
***
I think I'm gaining weight again because of junk food. And my hny is some kind of a kunsintidor that's why we grow fat together.
***
I'm watching (and loving) FRIENDS Season 1. I just realized how abnormal I was in high school, when everybody's watching Friends, I'm busy having boyfriends haha. Kidding.
***
We're enrolled in 2 subjects this sem, another 2 next sem and a comprehensive exam then we have our master's degrees. Then, hopefully we'll pass the licensure exam for environmental planners, then we'll have titles. Funkylady, En.P. Deadpan_Dô, En. P. Nice.
***
I don't think I'll be able to get a Ph D before 30, even if that's seven years from now (okay 6, I'll be 24 in August). That'll be too complicated, Funkylady, En.P., Ph. D. Fun!
***
Speaking of school stuff, we're enrolled in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Estate Planning. I think learning GIS is essential if we really want to pursue a career in planning plus I really want to learn something technical in my life. Studying computer programming would be too difficult for me at this stage, I guess I'll stick it out with GIS.
***
I'm excited and nervous at the same time with our other class, Estate Planning. I didn't attend last Monday, coz it's raining (excuses!). So, my hny attended it alone and he got himself a group! Sheesh, I really should've forced my lazy ass to get up, I thought it was the usual first day of class so, no classes, I forgot this is graduate school.
Well, according to hny the prof is strict, she even said that she hated the way master's programs are taught here in the Phils. The professors, according to her, are way too slack and the students too lazy to read assigned readings. Gee, it's giving me the jitters I'm so used to cramming. She also required a lot of things, but the topics are interesting so I guess I have to clean up my act this sem. I should not forget next meeting, I have to beg her to let me join my hny's group, hmm I better think of a good excuse for that.
***
Today is Bel's birthday and tomorrow will be Glenda's. Happy birthday ladies!
***
June 23, we'll be celebrating 63 months of happiness and mushiness. Gad, I'm so thankful for the guy.
***
Yesterday, he asked me what would I like to eat for our FRIENDS-marathon viewing, I texted him Go Nuts! Donuts! and changed my mind, I asked for PikNik instead. Guess what, he brought home both plus chocomallows and another chips. Sigh* Just one of those moments that I wish I've met him earlier, meaning first year high school (^_^)!!
Happy, Happy hny!!
Isang mabilis na post para sa Eraserheads.
High school ako nun nung una kong narinig ang Pare Ko. Sobrang relate siguro ang Pinoy youth noon, lalo pa nung ni-release yung Alapaap. Angsty, rebellious, out of the box music para sa mga high school students na nalilito sa identity pati na rin sa music preferences nila dahil sa Western influences. Naging parang national anthem ang mga kanta nila, sinakyan pa ng mga politiko, masamang impluwensya daw dahil sa mga double entendre, nanghihikayat na tumikim ng alam nyo na. Siguro kung merong isang salita para mai-describe yung kasikatan nila nun, eto yung naisip ko: phenomenal.
Ngayon, pagkatapos ng maraming quadruple platinum na albums, pagkatapos ng mala-Beatles na kasikatan, wala na sila. Maraming dahilan, malabo lahat, sabi nila irreconcilable differences daw. Maraming magagalit dun sa huling statement, dapat siguro linawin ko. Wala na ang banda, pero yung musika andyan pa rin. Ang dami nang dumating na bagong mga mukha, maraming nagtangka at sumusubok na marating man lang kahit kalahati nung kasikatan nila. May mga sumikat, mas maraming nalaos, lahat sila aminado na malaki ang impluwensya ng Eraserheads sa musika nila.
From the Stickerhappy album
OA siguro, pero yung banda ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit inambisyon ko na makapasok sa UP. Lalo na si Ely. Hehe Typical high school student. Pero nung freshman ako, wala na sila sa UP, ni hindi na nga tinapos ng mga mokong ang pag-aaral e. Ngayon, pag nakikita ko si Ely o naririnig yung mga kanta nila, hindi ko maiwasan na mag-reminisce ng high school, parang synonymous na kasi yun, parang parte na ng buhay mo na hindi mo makakalimutan kahit tumanda ka.
Eraserheads Anthology album cover
Isa lang siguro ibig sabihin kung bakit biglang ganito yung tono ng post ko: I'm gettin old. Sheesh.
To the MTRCB: It should be R18 uncut.
With the series now on its final four episodes, I would like to thank everyone who have emailed me asking for a copy of the spoiler, thanking me, or just giving their 2 cents worth about the Korean novela starred by Jo In Sung, Ha Ji Won, Park Ye Jin and So Ji Sub. It really took the Philippines by storm very much like the Meteor Garden craze in 2003. Your emails are heartwarming and it would be so much fun to send those emails to the producers and star of the said series if only I could. Since it would be difficult for me to find time to send individual emails because graduate school will begin a week from now, I am posting here a link where everyone with a yahoo mail account may donwload the spoiler.
Gamsa Hamneda!
I was cajoled enough by the big man to give away one of our secrets to having a "healthy" relationship, other than maintaining an open line of communication as your love guru would tell you, dining together is one sure way to keep your love al dente. I guess that has been the same secret kept by the amiable owners of Bellini's, an authentic Italian ristorante in the middle of busy Cubao. In this watering hole of artists, food connoisseurs, families and couples, everything is made fresh daily which sets it apart from other Italian eateries. They make their own pasta and pizza dough and it has been rumored that they offer 365 different pasta sauces, a different sauce everyday for the whole year. Me, I have yet to master the different pasta listed on their menu: ravioli, farfalle, tortiliogni, fusilli, etc. Good thing there's a description below for those Dory-moments. Their thin crust pizza is well-loved by patrons who are at war against carbs found in those American style pizza of Pizza Hut, with more than a dozen toppings to choose from. For desert, their heavenly panna cotta and tiramisu are the best-sellers. For us, it's always a different experience every time we go there and we've maintained a faithful vigil to Bellini's for five years. It's a homey, warm place to enjoy a sumptuous piece of Italy without leaving a dent in your pocket (nice pitch). Plus, the mysterious singer never fails to amuse me.
If you're curious of how Roberto Bellini, an ex-paparazzi of celebs and royals, runs a place with a mural of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can ask him at the Marikina Shoe Expo, his place is open until 11 pm.
*****
As promised to Iris Gonzales, one of the owners of Datelines, a new Bohemian book shop located inside the Shoe Expo near Bellini's, I am inviting friends and bloghoppers to visit their place with a selection of rare, non-mainstream books and other cool stuff.
*****
Move that lazy ass and also pay a visit to Vintage Pop, the place to be for those looking for antiques, collectibles and memorabilia.
Rice Terraces at Batad Junction. More than an hour ride from the Banaue Viewpoint, traversing on very narrow, semi-rough roads carved right through the mountains. Aim to go farther, the vista here is unspoilt, no words would suffice to describe the feeling of being right in the middle of paradise . It's worth every bump in the road, plus the danger of falling over the ledge adds to the adventure.
By
The Banaue Rice Terraces from Viewpoint. This is not the majestic and picture perfect terraces we see on postcards. A bit disappointed because the scenery is blighted by houses and other establishments around it.Talk about unplanned urbanization.
By
On the road to Banaue. We took the Isabela road passing thru Lamut going to Ifugao around 3-4 hrs. ride.
By
Rustic scenery. Fresh air. Blue sky. What more could a city animal ask for? On the road to Ilagan town proper.
By
At the President's Guest House Isabela State University. Lack of sleep+uncomfy sleeping positions at the bus=haggard looking people.
By
Phi. The Divine Proportion. The Fibonacci code. The Priory of Sion. Perhaps you’ve guessed what I have been glued into today. Yes, Da Vinci Code. Dan Brown has been stirring a hornet’s nest with his daring expose (though fictional) of that sacrosanct organization involved in a highly dangerous quest to attain power. Once again a depiction of the transgression that had cost an angel his place in Heaven: the desire for ultimate power and supremacy.
I’m a sucker for trivia and I have found the book highly entertaining and most intriguing.I even scrambled for a tape measure when Langdon was explaining about the Divine Proportion or Phi. He said that if you measure your height and divides it by the measurement of your belly button from your feet; you’ll get 1.618 which is Phi. Fortunately, I have a handy honey who became an unwilling guinea pig (pun intended: D). We’re totally surprised (waddahell?!) it didn’t add up, but its close, our measurement was far from accurate, but the quotient is close, amazingly close, 1.717 a .099 difference.
He also said that the quotient of the female bees when divided with the number of male bees in a bee hive anywhere in the world would equate to phi. I have yet to find a bee hive and count its residents without getting stung. Or catch a nautilus or pick a sunflower.
I have yet to resume my reading and despite the scorching heat, the book is way too cool to be put down and head for the nearest mall to chill out. In the mean time, a fitting challenge for Dan Brown’s converts.
http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/davinci/
What could be a fitting way to glorify such highly controversial book than to depict it in film. In 2006, The Da Vinci Code will be shown in the big screen with Academy-award winning actor Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon and Audrey Tautou as the cryptographer Sophie Neveu. Gossip mills have circulated that Brown was offered $6 million by Sony for the rights of the novel.
And now the debate on whether Tom Hanks should be playing Langdon begins.
By Prof. Ryan Cayabyab
(Speech delivered at the University of the Philippines commencement exercises 24 April 2005)
*sent thru email by the coolest PSO, Bel.
Maraming salamat po, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. UP President Emerlinda Roman, former presidents Jose Abueva and Noel Soriano, UP Diliman Chancellor Dr. Sergio Cao, the Board of Regents, U.P. faculty and administrative staff, co-professors from the College of Music, classmates from UP High 1970, fellow alumni, graduates, and friends: Malugod kong binabati kayong mga nagsisipagtapos ngayong taong 2005. Isang karangalan ang pagtayo ko dito upang maghatid ng isang talumpati para sa inyo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, maiksi lamang ang aking sasabihin.
Kinikilala kong ako ay isang mamamayan ng UP. Unang nasilayan ng aking mga mata ang sinag ng araw sa Area 1, UP Campus, sa may likuran ng Infirmary, kung saan din nanirahan sina Wilfrido Ma.Guerrero, si NVM Gonzales, si Jovita Fuentes, si Jose Maceda, at ang mga Lansang, mga Manalang, mga Daza, Cailao, Lesaca, Estrada at marami pang ibang mga pioneering faculty members ng UP Diliman.Ang nanay ko ay nagturo sa UP College of Music.
Apat kaming magkakapatid na lumaki sa sariwang hangin ng Area 1, nanghuhuli ng tutubi at kuliglig sa araw, kulisap naman sa gabi. Diyes ang Coca-cola, singko ang Cosmos. Minsan sa isa o makalawang linggo, may dumaraang truck ng DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) na nag-bubuga ng makapal na usok pampatay ng lamok na nagdudulot ng malaria. Lahat ng bata sa Area 1, at sa buong campus ay sinasalubong itong truck, at kung kaya lang naming magsiawit ng Haleluya noon ay ginawa na namin dahil para kami lahat nasa ulap, nagtatakbuhan, hinahabol at nilalanghap ang maputi at mabangong usok ng DDT truck.Napakasaya namin. Walang nagsabi sa amin na hindi lamang lamok ang pinapatay ng DDT. Ngayong malalaki na kami at nagbibiruan ang aming egroup na Area 1,napagkasunduan namin na dahil sa DDT na yan, bawat isa sa amin ay may bahid ng kabaliwan, depende sa dami ng nalanghap na DDT.
Marami kaming laro noon sa Area 1 patintero, tumbang preso, siyato, lastiko, gagamba, luksong tinik, step-no, habulan, taguan, teks at holen, na sa palagay ko ay sasabihin ninyong napakalow-tech kumpara sa mga laro ninyo nung kayo'y mga bata. Meron kaming mga sikretong tawagan, sipol at huni. Ang dami kong nais ikuwento tungkol sa aking pagkabata ngunit mauubos ang ating oras.Nag-aral ako sa UP Elementary School at sa UP High School.
Matagal na panahon ding diyes lamang ang bayad sa IKOT. Saan pa ba ako magkokolehiyo kundi sa UP rin. Una akong pumasok bilang accounting major sa UP College of Business Administration. Sa kabutihang palad, nauntog ako at na-realize ko na ako ay hindi pala maalam sa pagbibilang ng pera. Tinanggap ako at lumipat sa UP College of Musicbilang isang piano major. Nauntog na naman ako at natanto ko na ako ay nagpapanggap lamang na isang Cecil Licad.Mabuti naman at tinanggap ako ng Department of Composition and Theory.
Sa maniwala kayo't hindi, tinapos ko itong kurso, Bachelor of Music Major in Composition suma suma-sampong taon bago ko nakuha ang aking diploma.Aba! Naniwala pa sila sa akin at kinuha akong guro. Dito ko nakilala ang isa kong estudiyanteng napakaganda na una kong naging barkada sa kainan at kantahan, nauwi rin sa simbahan.Halos dalawampung taon din ako nagturo sa UP College of Music. Wala pang tatlong taon na ako ay nagbitiw bilang isang assistant professor; akala ko'y doon na ang katapusan ng aking koneksyon sa UP. Hindi pala, dahil ngayon ang aking panganay ay kasalukuyang isang university scholar sa College of Music.
Mababaw at maikling kasaysayan lamang ito. Gayon pa man, kasaysayan pa rin. Para sa akin, napakahalaga ng aking nakalipas at ito ay lagi kong babalik-balikan. Habang ako ay papalayo ng papalayo sa akingpinanggalingan, palalim nang palalim ang mga ugat na aking tinatanim, sinisiguro ko lamang na hindi ako maitutumba ng kahit ano mang malakas na bagyo o delubyo na sa buhay ko ay sasapit.
Ngayon, nakita n'yo kung bakit napaka-halaga ng UP sa aking buhay, sana ay maging sa inyo rin. Kahit hindi nyo na nasisilayan ang oblation, at hindi na naririnig ang karilyon, nawa'y nasa puso at isipan lagi ang paaralang kumupkop at nagpalawak ng isip ng bawat isa sa inyo.Naituro na lahat ng maituturo sa inyo ng inyong mga guro. Alam naman natin na ang bawa't isa sa atin ay may natatanging angking galing. Walang halaga ito kung hindi ninyo gagamitin para sa ikabubuti at ikauunlad ng inyong komunidad, ng inyong pamilya at ng buong sambayanan. Itanghal ninyo ang inyong pagiging Pilipino na nag-aral sa U.P. kahit saan kayo mapadpad.
Meron lang akong dagdag na pabaon sa inyo para lalong di nyo malimutan, ang UP nating mahal. Ito ang pitong mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa buhay na natutunan ko sa U.P.:
1. Ang buhay ay parang IKOT jeep. Ang iyong patutunguhan ay siya ring iyong pinanggalingan.
2. U.P. lang ang may TOKI, sa buhay wala nito. Pero nasasaiyo na yon kung nais mong pabaligtad ang takbo ng buhay mo.
3. Sa IKOT, puede kang magkamali ng baba kahit ilang beses, sasakay ka lang uli. Sa buhay, kapag paikot-ikot ka na at laging mali pa rin ang iyong baba, naku, may sayad ka.
4. Sa U.P., lahat tayo magaling. Aminin nating lahat na tayo'y magagaling. Ang problema dun, lahat tayo magaling!
5. Kung sa U.P. ay sipsip ka na, siguradong paglabas mo, sipsip ka pa rin.
6. Sa U.P., tulad sa buhay, ang babae at ang lalake, at lahat ng nasa gitna, ay patas, walang pinagkaiba sa dunong, sa talino, sapagmamalasakit, sa kalawakan ng isipan, sa pag-iibigan; at kahit na rin sa kabaliwan, sa kalokohan at sa katarantaduhan. At ang panghuli:
7. Sa U.P. tulad sa buhay, bawal ang overstaying.
Maraming salamat po!
Mayroon pa akong isang huling pabaon, galing sa puso ko - para rin sa mga puso ninyo, ito ang napili kong paraan upang maisalarawan ang tema ngayong hapon: "Angking Galing Para sa Sambayanan". Ito ay isang awiting nilikha ko at ng aking kakaklase sa high school na nagtapos din ng kolehiyo sa U.P., aking musika sa titik ni Ome Candazo, sa tulong ng mga kaibigan ko sa San Miguel Master Chorale at San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra na pawang mga alumni ng U.P.'Hala? ginawang concert ang speech!'
Photoshop-ped by Dô during one of those lull moments at the Palace.
Original art by Alex Robinson.
Dô (wannabe bassist), Pabs (wannabe guitarist), Pie and Tin (wannabe groupies, certified pretties (!) san ka pa? hehe)
In no particular order.
1) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Who doesn't like the stories of Roald Dahl and who doesn't love Johnny Depp? The uber lovable thespian Depp will be playing the part of Willy Wonka, the owner of the choclit factory. Directed by Tim Burton known for his surreal take on films. If there's Burton, there's Depp, remember Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, and Ed Wood. Now, he's back with CCF and the stop motion animated film, Corpse Bride (where Depp lends his voice to Victor, the man who mistakenly weds a corpse. Uggh).
2) Madagascar. From the producer of Shrek and Shark Tale, now comes a wacky tale of talking zoo animals led by a lion, a zebra, a hippo, and a bunch of psychotic penguins. The voices of Ben Stiller (Alex the Lion), Chris Rock (Marty the zebra), David Schwimmer (Melman the giraffe), and Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria the Hippo) would definitely send viewers reeling with laughter.
2) Madagascar. From the producer of Shrek and Shark Tale, now comes a wacky tale of talking zoo animals led by a lion, a zebra, a hippo, and a bunch of psychotic penguins. The voices of Ben Stiller (Alex the Lion), Chris Rock (Marty the zebra), David Schwimmer (Melman the giraffe), and Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria the Hippo) would definitely send viewers reeling with laughter.
3) A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. For those who have read the book, I hope this isn't another disappointment. Watch out for the appearance of John Malkovich as Humma Kavula. Directed by Garth Jennings.
4) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Definitely a must-watch film this year, especially for die-hard C.S. Lewis' fans. Though people (including me) are asking why it didn't start with the first book of the Chronicles, learned ones said it shouldn't even be read in chronological order so why would anyone film it chronologically, even C.S. Lewis said in a letter written in 1957: "So perhaps it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them." I guess it will spoil the fun and excitement because you'll already know beforehand the whys and the wherefores (in old english, wherefore is the same as why). This is the first, deal with it.
5) Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith. I'll be the densest but I have to admit I haven't watched the earlier films, viz., Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Star Wars: Episode VI-Return of the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace (1999), and Star Wars: Episode II-The Attack of the Clones (2002). It really didn't appeal to me then so I guess I don't share the excitement like the rest of Queen Amidala and Obi wan Kenobi fans out there. But who would not be awed by the magnificence of these epic films directed by George Lucas? So I guess I'll start with the last installment and catch up with the rest of the five films now.
Enjoy watching a movie :D
I've read the spoiler in one of the Korean website and despite the broken English, I understand why this is one of the most loved Korean series in Asia. The whole series has 20 episodes which ran for 60 minutes each.
I'm just posting here the last episode. If you want a detailed account you might want to visit rainlee for the whole text and sbs.co.kr for photos. Just highlight the text to read it.
Paolo found out that Ryan eloped with Erica and tracked them down to Bali.
The next scene showed Ryan lying in bed with Erica. He told Erica that she is free to go anywhere as he can see the sadness in her eyes. Erica cried and told Ryan that she wanted to love him, but she can’t because she loves Paolo. Then Paolo walked into their room, with a gun. He shot Ryan and Erica. Ryan died immediately while Erica struggles for life, she told Paolo that she loves him. Paolo was shocked with what he had done; he walked to the beach and committed suicide with the same gun.
Or I can email the whole story to you, it's in MS Word format, 7 pages. Just leave your email address in the comment page.
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We incidentally watched The Interpreter at Gateway. Incidentally because the ticket girl misheard it as we argue if we're gonna watch The Pacifier or The Wedding Date. And gave us tickets to Nicole Kidman's film. I was hesitant at first because I've read from imdb it's under the category drama/thriller and I don't watch those kinds of movies. It turned out to be a really good film about an interpreter at the United Nations who started to fear for her life after she heard a voice in the head phone describing a would-be assassination of the Matobo President. She gets protection from a CIA agent (Sean Penn) who's dealing with the loss of her wife.
Nicole and Sean are very good actors and gave outstanding performances. Story-wise, the movie gives a strong message about corruption and genocide in Africa which the award-winning director Sydney Pollack (The Firm) had the sense to tone down so as not to sound too preachy and overtly political. Nicole has a different accent here and she speaks fluently in Ku, a South African dialect, invented solely for use in the film. Though a lot of people are debating whether Nic's accent is good or bad, saying she's relapsing in her native tongue which is Australian (her nationality is also another point of debate).
Throughout the duration of the film, I kept wondering why Tom let go of Nicole, she's just so distractingly beautiful.
"In the right hallway, at the right time, all it takes is a whisper to tip the balance of power."
Movie trivia: The film was entirely shot in the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and Pollack had to talk to Kofi Annan to ask for permission to shoot at the General Assembly and at the Security Council chambers. (www.imdb.com)
The plate bearing the name Philippines inside the UN Gen. Assembly Hall was focused on several occasions for several minutes. That was one good publicity for the country :)
Nicole's interview
Picture courtesy of cinema.com.
That's you my dear friend. Let me just give you my two cents worth before you join the list of people who should've gone to hell instead of bullshitting trusting friends like me. Who would've thought a friend would sell you out just to gain some shitty points with the boss? Everybody except me. Naive, stupid me tsk tsk. Why can't I just hit hateful people with a baseball bat and get on with life? I can't do that as much as I want to, because I want a peaceful life outside jail. I just hope karma doesn't catch up on you, two-faced rat, coz if it does, you'll just be too sorry you didn't jump over the bridge when you had the chance.
Whoever is able to discover the hidden message gets a free gmail invite and a Noel Cabangon or Stonefree poster :D
I should brush up my Korean. Ha! As if I can speak and understand the language fluently when I can only say two phrases: Annyeong ha seyo (How are you) and Gamsa hamneda (Thank you). Korea is again taking Asia by storm (remember My Sassy Girl). From the producers of the phenomenal hit Lovers in Paris comes Memories of Bali (title chosen by ABS), a gripping tale of four individuals and their quest for love that would keep viewers glued on their tv set.
“Memories of Bali” tells the story of four souls who would meet in a whirlwind of passion, struggles, and selfishness that changes their lives forever. A young and rich Paolo is set to marry his fiancé Nina who is still in love with her ex-boyfriend, Ryan. The three finally cross paths in Bali and meet up with an orphan Erica who becomes their tour guide, and would later make Paolo fall in love with her. Witness the showdown between the star-crossed lovers in the story’s climactic ending. “Memories of Bali” is a love story of heartbroken young people, reflecting on the true values of life in this materialistic world, where nothing matters but money. This new series is a high rating, breakthrough Koreanovela from the producers of the hits “Lovers in Paris” and “Sunshine of Love.”
Casts:
Paolo (Jo In Sung)
Ryan (So Ji Sub)
Nina (Park Ye Jin)
Erica (Ha Ji Won)
Memories of Bali also goes by the title What Happened in Bali, Hearts in Bali, etc. Nice title choice ABS :)
(Definitely not. Boracay is simply amazing.)
1) I hate the word dude. I was blogrollin’ and I came by a blog with excessive usage of the word “dude”. It jerks my senses; just hearing it sandwiched in a sentence uttered by an officemate beats the hell out of me. Stop it dude sheesh
2) I am incapable of controlling my tear ducts. An officemate (not the one who utters dude) for several years is leaving, there’s no reason for me to cry and just ignored the thing the whole day. Before leaving, I decided to say hi, and we hugged then I cried.
3) I have international viewers. My hny told me that he showed the dancing hippo on my blog to the children at the conference in Jamaica, later on, everybody’s imitating the dance steps of the hippo and the dawg.
4) As I was searching for the word thank you in Nigerian, I discovered that English is their official language. Kudos to Google for saving my ass from embarrassment.
5) I love Hugh Jackman. I think Wolverine was created with him in mind.
6) I really want to study another language. I’m thinking which is easier: Italian or Japanese. And which would fit my sked next semester.
7) I am slowly maturing into a sensible adult. Someone in our office is utterly despicable (yes, that despicable for me to use such an adjective), instead of cursing her with all the expletives known to man, I caught myself praying. I sincerely prayed for that person to be enlightened and to live according to the teachings of the church and the religious org that person belongs to. Tsk so much for CFC ( I mean chlorofluorocarbon) *wink
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UP tops the bar exams! Yay!
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Thanks Bel for being so nice and kind. Hope to join your office's outing next month. Hope to enjoy it despite the ****** (my bad, i'm so katkatera *wink)
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Start of the four-day work week on Monday. To Energy Sec. Lotilla, that was one ingenous idea. Blech!
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Two weeks without a boyfriend. Arggh I am so hopeless
April 2, 2005 would be remembered in history as the day when more than one billion perople across the globe simultaneously mourns the death of Pope John Paul II. As the longest serving head of the Roman Catholic church, Karol Wojtyla had made history ever since his election to the papacy as the first non-Italian to occupy the throne in more than 450 years.
After endless eulogies, it would be very interesting to observe how the highly political church would choose his successor. For the non-Catholics, we might interest ourselves by asking "What happens when a pope dies?"
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For travel junkies out there, get a grip because you won't believe this. Where will your $6 take you? Tiger Airline (TA) says, "in Singapore!" TA is the newest airline to fly from Clark to Singapore three times a week offering cheap seat prices that would give major carriers like PAL and Singapore Air a run for their money. Their promo ran from March 29, 2005 until April 1. Hopefully, the presence of more air carriers would open up the world for middle class Filipinos who would want to travel but hindered by steep airline fares. But of course, before we go out and see the world, let's visit the 7, 100 islands first and discover the beauty Philippines has to offer.
Hi friends!
Let's show our support for Angelicum Oda, the only winner from the Philippines and from South East Asia of the 2005 CABLE & WIRELESS CHILDNET ACADEMY competition sponsored by Childnet International, a UK-based organization working to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children." The Academy received entries from 49 countries and the Philippines stood out with Angelicum's project, Young MDG.
At present, Angelicum is in Jamaica, along with his guardian, to represent the country and participate in the week-long event organized by the Academy that will culminate in the awarding of £2,000 to help the kids and young adults implement their winning projects.
Kindly follow the link and vote for Angelicum:
http://www.childnetacademy.org/winners/#new
Let's show our support for Angelicum Oda, the only winner from the Philippines and from South East Asia of the 2005 CABLE & WIRELESS CHILDNET ACADEMY competition sponsored by Childnet International, a UK-based organization working to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children." The Academy received entries from 49 countries and the Philippines stood out with Angelicum's project, Young MDG.
At present, Angelicum is in Jamaica, along with his guardian, to represent the country and participate in the week-long event organized by the Academy that will culminate in the awarding of £2,000 to help the kids and young adults implement their winning projects.
Kindly follow the link and vote for Angelicum:
http://www.childnetacademy.org/winners/#new
Here's the winning project: http://www.youngmdg.com/ymdg/
Related link: deadpan travels update on the adventures of dô and joco at Jamaica
Today is day two without Dô. I still feel sad and lonely pero hindi naman na ako mega-iyak unlike the night before their flight. Feeling ko kaya kong talunin si Ate Vi na best actress with matching sobs to the max. Ganyan ako ka-OA. Kaya ang ginawa ko buong weekend, nagpakalunod sa novels ni Agatha Christie at A.C. Doyle, nanood ng reruns ng Amazing Race 4, at nagpaka-socially relevant sa poverty edition ng Imbestigador. Ang hny ko naman, talagang nagrereport kung nasaan na sila. "Bun, HK na!! Bun, LA na!!Bun, Jamaica na!!" Pero ang ending hindi daw sya masyadong masaya, kasi wala daw ako. Naks, ang drama! Pero talagang hindi na ako umiyak.
Kanina habang nakasakay ng bus papuntang MRT Taft, iniisip ko na wala nga palang susundo sakin sa Cubao MRT station, nasanay kasi akong paghinto ng train, andun lang sya sa ibaba, naghihintay sa akin. Yan, naiiyak na tuloy ako.
Nineteen days to go. This is going to be one looong wait for me. Dapat magsimula na akong mag-cross stitch.
This is going to be one sad post. Six days from now, I am going to be alone. Alone meaning having breakfast solo, waiting for the ride without someone saying take care, no after lunch calls, no "hny i'm going home" texts. He is definitely leaving and I just can't help but feel empty. I thought I have mastered the art of saying goodbye, but this time sadness is magnified a hundred times. Call me mushy and over reacting, but for someone who has always been the one saying goodbye, holding back the tears would be one tough act.
I'll be experiencing the pain of being the one left behind and as much as I want to spare myself from being hurt, there's no avoiding it. Just like when my lolo left us two years ago, I was totally devastated and for some time I was in denial. Until now I haven't been able to overcome the sadness that I feel whenever I think of him, more so because it's a permanent farewell. And this one isn't. So, why the fuss?
Because for five long years Dô and I have been together. We've hurdled our college years together, punctuated only by nights ands weekends when I have to go home in the province. After college, we worked in the same office for some time, before pursuing different career paths; he worked for the government, while I remained loyal to the academe. He didn't allow me to stay in the dormitory, it's better if I live nearby he said, a few strides from their house, so he can watch over me. I agreed with the idea and that has been the set up for three years now. We get to eat breakfast and dinner together, wathc movies, play badminton, visit Chinatown every now and then, go food tripping, every little thing that makes up my present life, I spend with him. He takes care of me whenever I'm sick, he comforts me when I'm sad, he hushes my fears and insecurities away. He has just always been there for me, beside me, my very best friend whom I love and care for deeply.
And so with that I hope my crying would be justified.(TT)
Hny, you told me you're not that excited on this trip compared to last year's travel to Korea because I won't be coming with you, but I want you to be excited. I am. I'll be eagerly waiting for your stories of Jamaica and Canada and your stop-overs to Hong Kong and Los Angeles. And I'll be expecting your calls every now and then. Just be sure to take care of yourself because I won't be there to remind you of the things you shouldn't do, which you happily do to spite me (like nailbiting). Aren't you happy? you'll have several weeks of respite from my constant yakking. Just be sure to bring home some fine Jamaican sand and a drop of water from the Niagara. I'm still thinking if those sumptuous brownies will be worth your getting jailed. :D
mwah2 hny!!
Ang sumusunod ay mga karanasan ng aking mga Pilipinong kasamahan nang kami ay magtungo sa Korea upang dumalo sa isang ASEAN + 3 conference.
Ang mga participants ay nag-stay sa Kyung-Hee Dormitory, at kumpara sa mga dorms ng UP Diliman, langit ang Kyung-Hee. May aircon, sariling CR, telepono, Internet connection 24/7, magandang beds at maayos na closet. Ang sistema: dalawa hanggang apat ang occupant ng bawat kuwarto galing sa iba’t ibang bansa.
Eto na:
Room 1 (Pinoy at Hapon)
Galing sa cr ang hapon at mukhang kaliligo lang (rare ito!)
Jap: Can I borrow your towel? Sabay turo sa towel na nakabalabal na sa bewang nya.
Ngumiti na lang sya at sinabing “okay” pero sa loob-loob nya “Syet!”
Minsang nagkukuwentuhan kaming mga Pinoy, meron nag-advise na huwag daw mag-iwan ng personal na gamit sa loob ng cr dahil baka gamitin din ng mga roommates mo. Okay lang sana kung toothpaste at shampoo, pero ibang usapan na pag sabon at toothbrush. Biglang napatigil yung isa, naisip daw nya na bumili na lang ng bagong toothbrush kasi iniiwan pala nya sa cr yung kanya at isang beses daw, lumabas sa cr ang roommate nya na nakangiti sabay sabing “I’ve cleaned the toilet bowl”, naisip nya kung ano kaya yung ginamit nun na panglinis. Ewww.
Aminin man natin at hindi meron talaga silang “cute” na amoy. Naawa talaga ako kay Dô dahil ang kasama nya sa room ay Bumbay. Mabait naman at walang problema, yun nga lang, medyo iniiwasan kong bumisita sa room nila dahil sa amoy ng kuwarto at kadalasan ay medyo naaamoy ko na rin sa mga damit at gamit ng hny ko. Natuto na rin syang magtago ng towel dahil sa “towel experience” nung isa naming kasama. Naisip nya, 'yun hapon, yung roommate nya bumbay…at kulay alkitran.
Napansin talaga naming yung iba, hindi ugali na magpalit ng damit. Kung ano ang ginamit nila ngayon, bukas yun pa rin. One week po kaya kami sa Korea. At napakainit ng temperatura, isipin mong kailangan mong maglakad ng halos isang kilometro mula sa babaan ng bus hanggang sa library nila kung saan ginaganap yung conference. Ang mga Koreana naman naka-stilettos lagi, kesehodang duguan ang paa nila pagdating sa venue. Bilib talaga ako. Pero yung hindi pagpapalit ng damit, number one ang mga kasama naming lalaking hapon.
Minsan, pagkatapos naming mag-field trip sa Gyeongbuk-gong Palace at sa Korean Village, meron kaming pinuntahan na hotel. Siyempre, nag-unahan sa cr para magfreshen up ang mga girls. Maganda ang cr, classy at kumpleto sa amenities. Yun nga lang, wala silang hugasan ng paa, kaya ang mga kaibigan nating Indonesian, naghugas ng paa sa sink kung saan naghihilamos yung isang pinay. Nagkatinginan na lang kami at sabay na napamura. Pero sobrang tawang-tawa talaga ako.
Ang mga ganyang instances wala naman talagang problema kasi nga yun ang nakagawian na nila. Akala ba natin, por que, naliligo tayo lagi mabango ang amoy nila satin? Mali. Sabi nila ang mga Pilipino daw amoy-tubig. Paano ba yung amoy-tubig?
I really hope hny won't be here on Good Friday. I hope I'd cry that day because I'll be spending two weeks alone, for the first time in five years since we got together. That would mean they are able to push through their trip without a hitch.
They already have their Jamaican and US visas and we have a lot of people to thank for the valuable assistance they have unselfishly extended. Only the Canadian stamp is missing and they're set to go. I know hny is so stressed out for several weeks now, he has to write a lot of letters and make a lot of phone calls to facilitate their documents worsened by all the thinking, hoping and the seemingly endless waiting. But, I'm sure the trip is worth the effort and so I'm praying that all is going to be well come March 23 or earlier.
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Ma, belated happy birthday. Thank you for being a wonderful mother and friend to us three. I'm so thankful for having the best parents one could ever wish for. Luv you so much.
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My prayers for a friend who just lost a beloved relative.
Finally, after 4 long years of waiting, our yearbook is finally out.
Why the delay? Someone ran off with P15,000. Instead of remitting it to the printing press, the person decided to help pretty, young boys with their education and play azucarera de mamma. Gross.
On with the yearbook. Ours is different from the usual big and bulky yearbooks that can be mistaken as one of Lola Basyang's collection. It's really fun to read (fun=ROTFL), people look different under heavy make-up. And the testimonials are sweet, outrageous and downright crazy. Good thing I had the sense to submit a poem (for myself) and hny quoted a Beastie Boys song (for himself). Talk about narcissism. Heck, I like that poem bakit ba? :D
Here's the poem which made all the testimonials in our yearbook sound cheesy. Seriously, in celebration of International Women's Day, I want to share this poem of William Ernest Henley to all my womyn friends who have stood up for their convictions and who have managed to stay beautiful despite the pressures of this male-dominated world.
Invictus
OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
I was struck by an incomprehensible sadness while reading the documents sent by hny's relatives from Canada. One of the documents is a bilingual certificate of their new citizenship, the other one, a letter from the minister on multiculturalism congratulating them for choosing Canada as their new home. They are now Canadian citizens.
Their story is the story of the millions of Filipinos who are taking their chances in other countries in search for greener pastures. However, unlike OFWs who still maintain their citizenship, migrants opt to relinquish their being a Filipino not only to earn money but secure their family's future in terms of health, education and a lot of other benefits that our own government fails to provide. By the virtue of a piece of paper, you no longer pledge allegiance to the red, yellow, and blue flag that you have known since birth, rather to an entirely different flag with a maple leaf emblazoned on it. This means goodbye to the blighted cities, the polluted streets and potholed roads, goodbye to families, relatives, and friends you have known since you were small. Welcome to a brighter and promising future.
On the bleaker side, I can't help but think of a lifetime of poverty for those who do not have the choice to leave; to the farmers who are forever tied to lands they cannot own, to the laborers at the azucarera in Negros who barely eat thrice a day, to the thousands of children begging for alms, illiterate, sick, dying. This is poverty and 26.5 million Filipinos are suffering from it.
Who have not heard of fathers leaving their children to work in Saudi, of mothers who enslave themselves in Hong Kong, of brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles in different parts of the world who send pictures with a lot of smiles while their eyes tell otherwise. This is how poverty dehumanize people.
The Philippine Senate reported that seven to eight million Filipinos live and work abroad, almost 2, 374 leave the country everyday. Clearly, it's a fight or flight response against poverty.
In the future, I will face the same dilemma: should I stay or should I leave? The worst option perhaps is changing my citizenship from Filipino to another, not for me alone but more importantly for the sake of my children. But, is leaving the real option? Maybe, maybe not. I'll cross the bridge when I get there. As of now, I still want to believe and earnestly hope that this country will be able to survive the phenomenon that is Argentina. As long as there are people who serve the country unselfishly, as long as there are Filipinos who dream for the betterment of this society, no matter how few they may be, life is worth living in the Philippines.
________
"Ur kind words were conveyed to me. Thx a lot. Being remembered fondly by students s a reward 4 teaching dat weighs more dan our meager salaries."~PFN
Coming from a person whom you have revered all your adult life, this is truly heart-warming.
Top 5 Non-Alcoholic Beverages
1) Watermelon Shake. Available at Mr. Kabab's (Pantranco), not only do they serve mouth-watering shavarma but a thoroughly refreshing drink that won't leave a dent on your pocket.(Naks! Todo promote!)
2) C2 Green Tea. I've been a big fan of this beverage since December. Always on top of the grocery list.
3) Soya Milk. First tasted at Happy Veggies resto, bought a liter-pack at Shopwise, been drinking since yesterday morning.
4) Wendy's Iced Tea. Not your regular powdered, too-much-citric-acid iced tea you'll find at fast food stores, this one even has lemon rinds (calamansi?). Thirst-quencher!
5) Aloe. This is one expensive addiction we got from our trip to Korea. We even brought one liter and stuffed it in our baggage when we went home. Seeing Aloe in a store shelf here in the Philippines excites me ("Hny Aloe!!")
Iced Tea with Mint. Cibo has this one. It doesn't taste like powdered tea and it has mint leaves. In lieu of Aloe, which is a bit difficult to find.
Top 5 Alcoholic Beverages
No beer please.
1) Mudshake. Yummy booze! Available at your suking tindahan (Shopwise!).
2) Smirnoff Mule. A regular item in our grocery list. (Hala! Tomador!)
3) Quattro's Long Island Iced Tea. Just a glass makes me tipsy.
4) Mindoro Sling. Sharrap! Ang gaganda pa ng nagse-serve! Nyaha! :D
5) Warehouse. Also from Puerto G. This made us go home.
I wanna try Absinthe.
.
1) Watermelon Shake. Available at Mr. Kabab's (Pantranco), not only do they serve mouth-watering shavarma but a thoroughly refreshing drink that won't leave a dent on your pocket.(Naks! Todo promote!)
2) C2 Green Tea. I've been a big fan of this beverage since December. Always on top of the grocery list.
3) Soya Milk. First tasted at Happy Veggies resto, bought a liter-pack at Shopwise, been drinking since yesterday morning.
4) Wendy's Iced Tea. Not your regular powdered, too-much-citric-acid iced tea you'll find at fast food stores, this one even has lemon rinds (calamansi?). Thirst-quencher!
5) Aloe. This is one expensive addiction we got from our trip to Korea. We even brought one liter and stuffed it in our baggage when we went home. Seeing Aloe in a store shelf here in the Philippines excites me ("Hny Aloe!!")
Iced Tea with Mint. Cibo has this one. It doesn't taste like powdered tea and it has mint leaves. In lieu of Aloe, which is a bit difficult to find.
Top 5 Alcoholic Beverages
No beer please.
1) Mudshake. Yummy booze! Available at your suking tindahan (Shopwise!).
2) Smirnoff Mule. A regular item in our grocery list. (Hala! Tomador!)
3) Quattro's Long Island Iced Tea. Just a glass makes me tipsy.
4) Mindoro Sling. Sharrap! Ang gaganda pa ng nagse-serve! Nyaha! :D
5) Warehouse. Also from Puerto G. This made us go home.
I wanna try Absinthe.
.
Absinth inspired many prominent artists, writers and poets: Vincent Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Manet, Ernest Hemingway - in fact his masterpiece " For Whom The Bell Tolls " was written under the influence of "The Green Fairy". What's special with this liquor is that it has thujone, a toxic chemical present in wormwood and has a similar molecular geometry with THC, the active chemical in cannabis. www.absinth.com
Happy Drinking!
Saturday NN. We attended the volunteers' orientation at the CEAE for the Pasig River Marathon on February 27. I've been meaning to find worthwhile activities to engage in since I have a lot of spare time. I've decided to volunteer for an org working towards environmental conservation for the simple reason of self-preservation. For one, if loggers would not stop the indiscriminate cutting of the Amazon forest, the Earth will have less oxygen and I don't wanna die from asphyxiation. Also, I want my children to bathe in clean seas, smell the flowers, and climb trees, those small things that we've experienced when we were small which defined who we are now. Now I'm getting sentimental. Okay, back to the orientation, we met a lot people and did a lot of activities together. It was really fun! I'm looking forward to the 27th for the marathon event, for sure it'll be more enjoyable as we assist thousands of runners.
Four hours later, we find ourselves walking through the stretch of Gilmore, now considered the computer hub of QC. Excited to find a hole-in-the-wall food stall offering unusual fare, we stopped by Happy Veggies situated inside a new computer building. Since I'm not really hungry yet, I just ordered soya milk while hny ate steamed vegetable dumplings. That began my love story with soya milk.
After purchasing a keyboard and some blank cds, we headed for the Gateway Mall. And it is such a small world, for time and again we bumped with the Dacio sisters. We saw them atbthe ticket booth, at Bench, outside Rustan's. They're gonna watch Constantine, while we're just aimlessly walking around. We found ourselves dining at Cibo, hny ordered Lamb Panini while I had Pasta al Amado (?). I liked everything even the bit-too-gamey lamb, but I loved their iced tea with mint.
Proceeded to Shopwise after and bought seemingly healthy food , viz: muscovado sugar, C2 green tea, chicken chunks, Florida mushroom, and soya milk! But the most fab find was the capiz earrings I bought from one of the small shops inside Shopwise. Can't wait to wear it tomorrow. Kikay :D
I've also volunteered for the Borgen Project and I'm currently reading the second volume of Sherlock Holmes adventures. I'm soo into the song All I Ask of You, a result of our watching the Phantom of the Opera last week. By the way, the name of the protagonist is Christine. :)
Movies to watch: Lemony Snickets' ASUE, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, The Aviator, and Hitch.
For movie reviews, click here: http://www.imdb.com/nowplaying/.
Nobody knows
Just why we’re here
Could it be fate
Or random circumstance
At the right place
At the right time
Two roads intertwine
And if the universe conspired
To meld our lives
To make us
Fuel and fire
Then know
Where ever you will be
So too shall I be
Chorus:
Close your eyes
Dry your tears
‘Coz when nothing seems clear
You’ll be safe here
From the sheer weight
Of your doubts and fears
Weary heart
You’ll be safe here
Remember how we laughed
Until we cried
At the most stupid things
Like we were so high
But love was all that we were on
We belong
And though the world would
Never understand
This unlikely union
And why it still stands
Someday we will be set free.
Pray and believe
Chorus:
When the light disappears
And when this world’s insincere
You’ll be safe here
When nobody hears you scream
I’ll scream with you
You’ll be safe here
Save your eyes
From your tears
When everything’s unclear
You’ll be safe here
From the sheer weight
Of your doubts and fears
Wounded heart
When the light disappears
And when this world’s insincere
You’ll be safe here
When nobody hears you scream
I’ll scream with you
You’ll be safe here
In my arms
Through the long cold night
Sleep tight
You’ll be safe here
When no one understands
I’ll believe
You’ll be safe,
You’ll be safe
You’ll be safe here
Put your heart in my hands
You’ll be safe here
~Rivermaya
~from rebelpixel.com
I rarely read books written by authors other than Christie, Doyle, and Higgins. But of course, there came a time when I have read almost everything these creative geniuses had written. My passion does not end in reading their novels alone, I must possess the books. Most especially in the case of Dame Christie, I have lived my growing up (old) years hunting for her books. Here is the clincher: I must not buy from legit book stores, rather from hole-in-the-wall shops selling those priceless books dirt-cheap. I am nearing success with regard to Christie, she had written 80 novels and I already have 75. Five more to go and I have no more purpose in life.
The case is different as regards Doyle, I think his novels are harder to find than Christie's. And so I have to buy; my hny recently bought me a Barnes and Noble edition of the Complete Sherlock Holmes which I lovingly wrapped in plastic cover (OC). Higgins, I can live without, I just turn to her when I start to morph from funky lady to lunatic kristinne for lack of anything to read.
Other than those three writers, I have other books for variety: George Orwell's 1984 & Animal Farm, Sidney Sheldon's novels, Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club, and Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. The latter is priceless for reasons I will not divulge. Okay, I will Kuya Boy (parang Kris Aquino a), that book originally belongs to a famous person who once occupied my office space. He left his books and mementos for years, unread, accumulating dust. Then came I.
Some day, I will have that book Fed-exed to that person, it might be one of his prized possessions and he must have gone crazy looking for it. Although, he hasn't really cared that much for the book. The first thing I did to rehabilitate it is wrap it in plastic cover. (!)
Hay too much digression, this is not what I intend to write. I wanted to talk about a book which I am currently reading, entitled the Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I started to love the book and so I asked the owner's permission for me to cover it and lucky me, she obliged. Muchas gracias Bel for giving me the opportunity to explore other horizons through Piscine. From the few chapters I have read, I have learned to appreciate the idyllic nature of the sloths, how cruel that one of the mortal sins is named after these happy creatures. Also, I suddenly miss going to the zoo.
I still have a few hundred pages to read that's why I am soo eager to get home. :)
**
Thank God It's Friday!!!
**
PGMA decided to "up the ante" by raising the Valentine bonus to P3000. Thank you na rin kesa wala :)
Last night, I have discovered possible cures for boredom.
For weeks now, I have been feeling sluggish and extremely tired. At first, I attributed it to my 3-hour sleep to due sim city addiction but even when i started to wean away from zoning dense residential areas in my city (where I am mayor hah!) and slept 7 hours straight, I still feel like a sloth at the office. My battle against boredom ended last night when hny bought P36 worth of plastic cover and a sturdy 3m scotch tape. I started to cut through the plastic and suddenly my veins seem to pick up its rhythm, I covered books after books, of different sizes and shapes. I covered the Complete Sherlock Holmes book, several pugad baboy comic books, Yann Martel's Life of Pi, several Agatha Christie novels, and George Orwell's 1984.
To some people, this may seem stupid, but not everyone has this rare talent. I remember a great individual whose sole purpose in life is world domination (she goes by the name Jessica Zafra in this incarnation) who have written in one of her best-selling books her struggles in finding an adhesive for a clean, scotch-tape free, plastic book cover . She even tried acetone. See, Plastic "covering' is both a science and an art; a science because you have to employ experiments to find which adhesive works best, an art because you have to have the right pulse to cut the plastic straight without any outside help. It makes one self-reliant and creative.
The other cure, I will not hide within sentences. You just have to click it: http://maddox.xmission.com/.
: I am not to blame if you get offended. Click at your own risk. It may be life altering. Not for ignoramus sarcasmus. :D
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